mirror.co.uk

Ready for a Royal arrival

Excitement is mounting as cruise ship Royal Princess draws nearer to Britain ready to be christened next week by the Duchess of Cambridge.

The 141,000-ton vessel, largest ever built for Princess Cruises, left Italy last weekend and called at the Spanish port of Algeciras yesterday to take on fuel.

The ship will arrive in Southampton on Friday, ready for a series of introductory events and a two-day mini-cruise before Thursday's naming ceremony, which is expected to be Kate Middleton's last public engagement before she withdraws to have her baby in July.

Royal Princess will be off Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, by about 9.25 on Friday morning and should reach Southampton's Ocean Terminal by 10.30. A flotilla of pleasure boats and a water-spouting tug will put on a special welcome.

Paul Ludlow, UK director of Princess Cruises, said: "Bringing Royal Princess to the UK is a demonstration of the importance of the UK market to Princess Cruises and our desire to give British customers a chance to see our latest innovations. British cruisers love Princess for many reasons including the quality and range of our itineraries, our friendly and attentive service, and of course our outstanding food."

After the naming ceremony, during which there will be performances by the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines and singer Natasha Bedingfield, the ship will set off for another mini-cruise before departing on her maiden voyage on June 16.